Entrepreneurons is a WARF series focused on bringing the fundamentals of getting a new venture started to the UW–Madison community.

At the next Entrepreneurons event, meet people from across the country and around town who are inventing ways of fulfilling their vision for the planet while opening up markets, creating jobs and generating wealth.

Learn more and register by April 25.

Applications for the 2016 Dane County Small Business Awards are being accepted until May 13, 2016. The awards celebrate small businesses and the contributions they make to our communities and economy.

Applications must meet the following criteria:

• A successful for-profit company that has been in business for at least three years or 1-3 years for the emerging business award*
• A minimum of 3 full-time equivalent employees, including the owner
• Maintain a responsible and rewarding workplace environment
• Provide support (in-kind or financial) to their neighborhood and/or community
• Awards considered in the following sales/revenue categories: Less than $1 million; $1-5 million; $5-10 million; $10-20 million

Award winning companies are honored at a breakfast program to be held on June 28, 2016, attended by on average 250 people. In addition to recognizing the companies for their achievements, the awards breakfast has a keynote speaker, panel discussion or other informative and entertaining program. During the awards presentation each winner will share a life or business success tip with the audience. Each winning company receives an award that they will proudly display for their employees and customers.

Learn more and apply online.

Ready to accelerate your startup business idea?  Here’s your chance!

Startup Weekends are 54-hour events designed to provide superior experiential education for technical and non-technical entrepreneurs.

Beginning with Friday night pitches and continuing through brainstorming, business plan development, and basic prototype creation, Startup Weekends culminate in Sunday night demos and pitches. Participants create working startups during the event and are able to collaborate with like-minded individuals outside of their daily networks. All teams hear talks by industry leaders and receive valuable feedback from local entrepreneurs.

The weekend is centered around action, innovation, and education. Whether you are looking for feedback on an idea, a co-founder, specific skill sets, or a team to help you execute, Startup Weekends are the perfect environment in which to test your idea and take the first steps towards launching your own startup.

A limited number a participants are allowed, registration prices vary by level of participation.

Learn more and register online.

Contact the organizers at swmadison@googlegroups.com or chat with Amy Gannon (co-organizer of Startup Weekend Madison) with questions.

The upcoming meeting of the Evansville I&E Club features speaker MadREP Enterprise Development Director Craig Kettleson, who will discuss business incubators and how a community can not only benefit from one, but find the financial resources to start one. Kettleson will also provide examples from nearby communities that have made an incubator investment.

The following question will be addressed at the April 13 meeting:

If a building was designated in Evansville as an “incubator” for you, then what equipment, space, knowledgeable person or other resource in that building would make it EASY for you to take the next step with your business or invention dream?

Visit the I&E Club’s facebook page, or contact Sue Berg at 608.882.0986 for more information.

Technology business, entrepreneurship, and startups in Madison have another great year ahead. To celebrate that and get in high gear for an eventful summer, Capital Entrepreneurs, Horizon Coworking, and the Forward Festival invite the community and its supporters to the 4th Annual Spring Tech Kickoff!

Once again a lot has happened since last year’s spring event, and with new energy, new employers, and new support and funding resources for entrepreneurs we foresee even more coming this year.
Come celebrate achievements and learn a little about what’s new in an open informal event. Anyone is welcome; this is a place where folks who want to connect and participate can easily plug in and help move our community forward.

Admission is free, but space is limited so please register online. Contact info@fowardfest.org with any questions.